Add vanílla, water and cocoa powder to another bowl and whísk untíl smooth. Míxture wíll be thíck.

Add chocolate míxture to batter and míx untíl combíned. Scrape down the sídes of the bowl as needed to make sure everythíng ís well combíned.

Combíne flour, bakíng soda and salt ín a separate bowl.

Alternate addíng the flour míxture and mílk to the batter. Begín by addíng half of the dry míx, then míx well. Add the mílk and míx well, scrapíng down the sídes as needed. Add the remaíníng flour míxture and míx untíl smooth.

Fíll cupcake líners about 3/4 way. Bake for 15-17 mínutes, or untíl a toothpíck ínserted comes out wíth a few crumbs.

Allow cupcakes to cool about 2-3 mínutes, then remove to a coolíng rack to fínísh coolíng.

To make the frostíng, combíne the butter and shorteníng ín a large bowl and míx untíl smooth.